Overproduction of fumarate reductase in Escherichia coli induces a novel intracellular lipid-protein organelle

Abstract

The expression of fumarate reductase in Escherichia coli has been amplified over 30-fold by utilizing a recombinant plasmid, pFR63, carrying the fumarate reductase operon. More than 50% of the inner-membrane protein could be accounted for by the enzyme, whereas the total amount of protein associated with the membrane fraction doubled. The membrane accommodated this excess fumarate reductase without reducing the levels of other membrane-associated enzymes. At the same time, the amount of membrane lipid decreased such that the lipid/protein ratio remained constant, indicating that the total amount of membrane had doubled. Small alterations in fatty acid composition as well as a large increase in cardiolipin were detected in the fumarate reductase-enriched membranes. The excess membrane was localized in novel tubular structures which were observed in thin-section and negatively stained electron-microscopic preparations. The tubules only appeared after the cytoplasmic membrane became highly enriched in fumarate reductase. They branched from the cytoplasmic membrane and were composed of an aggregate of fumarate reductase and lipid.